Accidents/Incidents at RAF Sek Kong

[Hugh Been'ad]

Having seen a couple of memorial brass plagues commemorating the deaths of 2 individuals in Sek Kong I wonder if anybody has any history or background they could share.

the first says

"To the memory of Flying Officer Hunter Dennison who tragically died whilst serving with the Royal Air Force at Sek Kong 13 January 1986"

the second says

"In memory of Sergeant Andrew George who died whilst serving with the Royal Air Force at Sek Kong 4 May 1988 Aged 37"

I have tried a Google search for the names but unfortunately have drawn blanks so any help would be appreciated.

[Cows getting bigger]

Robert Hunter DENNISON, b. 14 Aug 1958, 3 Balfour Village, Shapinsay, OKI, SCT d. 13 Jan 1986, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sha Tin, New Territories, Hong Kong (Age 27 years)

This comes from an online family tree. The page also indicates he was a helicopter pilot.

[ShyTorque]

I was aware that we lost a Wessex in the sea around that time. Wikipedia gives this information:

On 5 November 1986 XS518 a Westland Wessex HC5 of 84 Squadron flew into the sea and sank wile flying a medical flight at night, three killed including a Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service nurse.[27]

[NutLoose]

This puts 518 as going down off Cyprus which would be right as its 28 Sqn with the HC2 that was in SEK Kong, 84 were based in Cyprus using the HC5


ASN Aircraft accident 05-NOV-1986 Westland Wessex HC5C (S-58T) XS518 (http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=55068)

[ShyTorque]

Quite right, Nutty. Brain fade on my part, I'm afraid. :O

[Old-Duffer]

The Wessex mentioned was lost off Cyprus. Limassol Bay in fact

Those who died were: Flt Lt Fiona Johnstone PMRAFNS, Master Aircrew Peter Barwell AFC and Cpl Martin Cook PMRAFNS.

I believe the last fatal RAF helicopter accident in Hong Kong might have been Whirlwind XR477, which struck cables near Fanling. Flt Lt Ernest Roy Taylor and F/Sgt James Lucas were killed. However, I could be wrong as I have not checked thoroughly.

Old Duffer

[kaitakbowler]

"The Wessex mentioned was lost off Cyprus. Limassol Bay in fact"

The night before the AOC's formal inspection, IIRC.

AVM KW H carried on, drinks in the mess at lunchtime was a vquiet affair.

PM

[Old-Duffer]

I have now checked the Armed Forces Memorial register and although both Fg Off R H Dennison and Sgt A George are listed in the Roll of Honour at St Clement Danes, neither is commemorated on the AFM wall at Alrewas.

This means that their deaths are nor ascribed to their service and so their deaths were natural causes, an off duty accident or similar.

Old Duffer

[huge72]

I knew and flew with Hunter at Sek Kong and returned to the UK shortly before his untimely accident. He was killed whilst riding a motorbike in the New Territories. He was liked and missed by all of us on 28 Sqn and the rest of the Wessex Fleet.

I'm sorry I cannot give any information on the other name you mention but as a long serving member of the Wessex / Hong Kong world I suspect it was also an accident or natural causes.

RIP both.

Huge

[teeteringhead]

Shy The Wessex that ditched in HK was XR 500 IIRC - no fatalities and would have been about mid-80s. Will look it up.

One understands the pilot concerned subsequently "did time" for some sort of insurance scam (??) but I may be getting confused ...... :8

[Edited to add:

A few years out! Got the right frame (XR 500), but it was April '79

[Cows getting bigger]

I'm pretty sure that another 28 Sqn Wessex ditched on 17 September 1993. ;)

[John Purdey]

Unable to help with helicopters at SekKong, but between 1954 and 1957, we lost five in fatal accidents on Vampires at SekKong, and two more fatals of pilots from 28 who were away on detatchments. (I have all the details if anyone is interested). No-one seemed to think that such a high rate of loss was at all unusual in those (thankfully far off days).

[charliegolf]

Shy The Wessex that ditched in HK was XR 500 IIRC - no fatalities and would have been about mid-80s. Will look it up.

One understands the pilot concerned subsequently "did time" for some sort of insurance scam (??) but I may be getting confused ......

[Edited to add:

A few years out! Got the right frame (XR 500), but it was April '79

Clem Clemence (sp) was the crewman I think? Pitched up on 33 afterward.

CG

[DunWinching]

I think the 93 ditching was K... T... and his merry men launched as a multi aircraft SAR call in a typhoon to a sinking rig support vessel, I think with a dive decompression chamber in use on board. The Wessex suffered a double flame out from salt ingestion, followed by a good eol into the south China Sea. Crew in dinghy impressed
that it stayed upright and floated away towards mainland China.

[huge72]

The Wessex that ditched in 79 was indeed XR500 (A) and for years the hulk languished on the far side of the runway at Sek Kong. The crew were Flt Lt Mxxxxxl, FS Cxxxxxxs and Sgt Pxxxxxxs. As for the one in 93 it was XT667 (F) on a SAR callout during a Typhoon. It suffered a doubled flame out due to water down intake during the storm. I don't remember all the crew but ''Old Sarboy'' would be able to tell as he was the winchop. It is at the bottom of the South China Sea!!!!!

[huge72]

As an aside, there is an amusing tale of one Fg Off H Dennison, although at the time he felt his career had taken a real nose dive. At the end of 1985 there was a service held at St Clement Danes which required the 28 (ac) Sqn Standard to be paraded. Hunter was the Standard Bearer and along with one escort FS B J******s they set off from Sek Kong. Now that was in the days when the charter was B Cal staging through Dubai into Gatwick. At Kai Tak as is the custom they watched the Standard being loaded onto the aircraft before taking their seats. At Dubai they had to enter the transit lounge and stay there before resuming their onward journey. What could go wrong!!!! You guessed it on arrival Gatwick, no Standard. Of course the handlers at Dubai just had to take it off and somehow forgot to put it back on. Luck prevailed and 24 hrs later and just before it was needed it caught up but for a moment Hunter thought he would always be known as the man who lost the Squadron Standard

[Hugh Been'ad]

Thanks very much for all of the detail, it is really appreciated.

[Oldsarbouy]

Yes, Huget, I was indeed the Winchop when we ditched Foxtrot in the South China Sea. We were heading out during a typhoon to go to the aid of a vessel, which turned out to be a hoax, when we lost an engine due to water ingestion from the heavy rain and salt spray,but managed to get it back. Shortly afterwards we lost both engines and KT carried out a perfect EOL, probably his finest landing ever, with not a drop of water in the cabin. The flot gear worked perfectly and TP, the Winchman, and myself were able to carry out a gentlemanly exit with the multi seat liferaft. Once clear we inflated the dinghy and, typically, it was upside down so we hung on the outside and were joined by KT. We decided not to try and right it due to the wind speed and rough sea as it would probably have ended up in mainland China. Meanwhile CN, the co-pilot, had gone under the nose, got caught up in the Homer aerials and finally emerged to see us about 30 metres away so he inflated his single seat dinghy and didn't attempt to join us.
Two more Wessex from the squadron arrived about 40 minutes later and we were recovered to the usual banter of "SAR Boys, w*****s"and taken back to Sek Kong and waiting spouses who had heard the news on the radio!
When we departed the scene Foxtrot was still afloat and heading for China complete with my aircrew watch! Happy days

[Hueymeister]

Amazing you had the presence of mind to take the watch off!
Did you leave the disco gear behind too?:E

[ShyTorque]

When we departed the scene Foxtrot was still afloat and heading for China complete with my aircrew watch!

Didn't the rest of the crew remember to leave their watches behind, too? ;)

[peterperfect]

Don't forget 660 Sqn AAC, operating Scout AH1s there between c1978 and 1994.
One 'overland' ditching (tail rotor failure ??) splashed into a shallow fish farm/duck pond up around the Mai Po marshes. The cab was recovered by the Royal Navy 824 Sqn A Flight Sea King detachment based there as part of the anti-II and Asian refugee effort.
Good bunch of lads in both 660 and 28(AC). Great memories, superb flying environment, happy days included playing for the Flying Kukris RFC based at SK. pp.

[D120A]

A friend who was on 28 Sqn in 1952, flying Venoms from Sek Kong, told me about an accident involving two aircraft at that time. A pair were due to fly on an air-to-air gunnery detail, shooting at a banner towed by a DH Hornet from Kai Tak. The pilots were a flight commander and a very newly-arrived first tour pilot.

They lined up to take off, and at full throttle the leader nodded ‘brakes off’ and off they went. When they had reached about 50 knots a dog ran across the runway ahead of them and the leader closed the throttle and braked. Unfortunately his number 2 wasn’t quite so sharp and shot past him. Seeing him go past, and also seeing the dog depart the runway, the leader decided to save the lad’s face and so opened the throttle again. Simultaneously, the number 2 realised he had unforgivably overtaken his leader, and so he braked. This see-sawing went on with the result that both aircraft went off the end of the runway at speed and ended up in the rice paddy minus their undercarriages.

A couple of hours later, while the engineers were up to their knees in rice paddy trying to work out how to extricate what was left of two armed Venoms, a Hornet flew at low level down Sek Kong’s runway at high speed. It was towing a target banner, on which was written: ‘Beware of the Dog’.

[Rocket Sox]

Hi Old Duffer

I can confirm that Hunter Dennison was killed in a motor cycle accident in Hong Kong. He was a real gentleman with a great sense of humour.

[Rocket Sox]

Hi Pete I remember a 660 cab landing just before a typhoon came through and 28 SQN under-slung it back to camp. Chris James was the pilot of the Wessex and I was the sector controller that afternoon. Jeeeez! The memories all come flooding back by reading a comment. Hope this helps clarify things on this one for you.

[Herod]

I've just come across this thread, and looked up XR500 in my logbook. An ex-78, ex-Aden machine. My last flight in her was from Intrepid to Sharjah, when we arrived from Aden. 4.12.67. That's over 48 years ago! I think I need a lie down.

[huge72]

Rocket Sox so glad your still out there, I remember you well from our tour in the far eastern sun.

[Andy Shepherd]

Having seen a couple of memorial brass plagues commemorating the deaths of 2 individuals in Sek Kong I wonder if anybody has any history or background they could share.

the first says

"To the memory of Flying Officer Hunter Dennison who tragically died whilst serving with the Royal Air Force at Sek Kong 13 January 1986"

the second says

"In memory of Sergeant Andrew George who died whilst serving with the Royal Air Force at Sek Kong 4 May 1988 Aged 37"

I have tried a Google search for the names but unfortunately have drawn blanks so any help would be appreciated.

Hunter was killed between SK camp and village on his trail bike a car pulled out on him he was from the Isles Orkney’s?
nice bloke spoke a few times at football etc no airs/ graces just a nice guy in his early 20’s flying Wessex. Always remembered him and his personal effects came through Brize Norton, bit of a shock really seeing the name on the box.

[Cunning linguists]

I was an Officer cadet with Hunter in the RFA (Royal Fleet Auxilary) in 1979. He was a senior cadet just about to take his second Officer exams and I was a junior of just six months service at age 16. We were sailing on a dirty old oil tanker called the Olna, roughing it out in bad weather for weeks in the North Sea. On board we had a Wessex from a squadron at Culdrose and Hunter was fascinated to the point where he made the decision that he no longer wanted to be a Merchant Naval Officer, but wanted to be a pilot!
One Sunday morning we put into Scapa Flow in the Orkneys for a breather from the washing machine of the North Sea in Winter. Hunter was delighted because he lived in Kirkwall and was the first off on a small tender to get milk and papers (and pop home to see his folks).
I spent four months on board with him and his buddy Chris. Always remember him for his ‘just get it done’ attitude and his acute Scottish accent!
I now live in Australia age 61. Was just googling old shipmates yesterday when this thread came up. Hunter would have been 65 now and I am saddened that he has been lost 37 years ago. But so happy for him that he achieved his dream of flying helicopters.